Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering

Transcript

1 Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering Research subjects proposed for the 26th cycle Meccanica dei fluidi ambientale e idrologia Environmental fluid mechanics and hydrology Meccanica dei fluidi granulari Mechanics of granular flows A. Armanini, M. Larcher The research regards the mechanics of granular flows in water. The idea is to extend the theories to account the influence of the interstitial fluid. A first aspect the research will be focused on consists of the analysis of the transition between the frictional and collisional regime and on the particular case of the coexistence and intermittence of the two regimes, as it has been recently observed in some experiments carried out in Trento. Another aspect that will be investigated is the effect of the granular composition on the dynamics, focusing on the mechanisms determining grading and reverse grading. Part of the research will be developed using a special flume of the Hydraulic Laboratory designed for the experimental investigation of granular flows in water. The results of the research can be applied to the study of natural phenomena, like the propagation of debris-flows and gravity currents, and to industrial processes involving granular materials. Hyperconcentrated suspensions in free-surface flow A. Armanini, M. Larcher Mudflows are one of major natural hazard, claiming thousands of lives and millions of dollars in lost property each year in almost all mountain areas on the Earth. The practical interest of such flows is enormous due to the disruptive effects of the propagation of mud front through the incisions of hillslopes and their spreading on the alluvial fans which are located at the foot of mountains and are often densely populated. The constitutive behaviour of such highly concentrated suspensions has been the subject of several experimental investigations. The issue cannot be considered as completely settled, and new approaches are required in order to analyze separately the behavior of the solid phase and the one of the interstitial fluid at the bed. Within this frame, equilibrium conditions are supposed to take place and mudflow has to be treated as a mobile-bed flow. Moreover the rheological parameters have to be intended as a property of the flow and not merely considered as a function of the concentration and of the mineralogical composition. In this way every macroscopic behaviour should be explained through the knowledge of the evolution of the microstructural state. The proposed tools will be applied to investigate suspension dynamics with different dispersed phases under laminar and turbulent flow regimes. Specific measurements for cases of free-surface suspensions will be worked out and relevant results compared with theoretical ones. This field of application is quite novel in suspension flow. Hydromorphological alteration and restoration options in regulated rivers G. Zolezzi, A. Siviglia, M. Toffolon Hydromorphology is one of the key components of river ecological and environmental status as recognized by the EU Water Framework Directive (EU 2000/60). The alteration of the hydro- and morphodynamics within river corridors often results in a strong impact on the ecological integrity of freshwater systems, and considerable research efforts are still needed to enhance the effectiveness of mitigation and restoration options. Typical hydromorphological alterations in Alpine areas are associated with hydropower production and channelization of river corridors: here effective mitigation strategies are limited by the requirements of plant operation and intensive land use. Local widening of channelized reaches is increasingly used as measure to improve river habitat enhancement also through morphological diversity. In hydropower-regulated rivers, increased morphological diversity can also mitigate the hydrodynamic and thermal effects of plant operation, although little research has examined this in detail. Giving more room to the river also implies allowing initiation of non-equilibrium morphodynamics that can produce effects at various space and time scales on the river system, including its biotic compartment (such as riparian vegetation, macroinvertebrate communities) The proposed research aims to quantify the hydro-morphodynamical interactions occurring in regulated river systems with different channel morphologies. The research will integrate numerical and analytical modelling with the analysis of already available and newly collected field data. A preferential field site will be the Noce River system (located in the Trento Province), which presents a canalized morphology interrupted by a local widening where a multi-channel pattern spontaneously developed in the recent past during an exceptional flood event. Also depending on the candidate s attitudes, the research project can have a stronger focus on the modelling or on the field/experimental component. Morphodynamics of meandering rivers under changing environmental conditions and human effects G. Zolezzi, M. Tubino Understanding and quantifying the behaviour of natural meanders is important for both traditional river engineering and for river restoration oriented at giving more room to the river and often at re-meandering rectified reaches. However,

2 few scientific-based tools are commonly employed for the scientific support of remeandering projects, which have often resulted in poor performance or even failure with strong economic losses. The planform dynamics of meandering rivers has been subject of a vast body of research for decades, allowing to qualitatively understand many key properties of river meander dynamics. However most investigations do not consider explicitly scenarios of alteration caused by changing human pressures and environmental conditions, which may result in variations of sediment supply, vegetation cover, channel width and sediment size at various time and spatial scales. Aim of this research project is to investigate how river meander dynamics can be controlled by environmental and anthropic changes. The research will integrate mathematical modelling with the analysis of field data using novel techniques for meandering rivers. The PhD candidate is expected to further develop existing meander morphodynamic models to look for significant field data which can allow closer comparisons between theoretical predictions and observed trends. The research project will be based on a multidisciplinary cooperation with national and international researchers in the area of river geomorphology in order to complement and provide validation to the modelling component. Modelling ecohydraulic transport processes in natural and regulated alpine river systems G. Zolezzi, M. Toffolon, A. Siviglia There is an increasing recognition of the key role played by the transport of vegetation pieces, by heat as well as by organic matter in the physical-biological feedbacks that shape riverine landscapes, create a variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats and are thus essential to sustain the services provided by freshwater ecosystems. The main purpose of this research project is to understand and model some of these hydrodynamic transport processes with recognized ecological significance that have received little attention so far within fluvial hydraulics. The research will have a main focus on alpine gravel-bed rivers and can preferentially focus on the transport of river water temperature or pieces vegetation particles or fine sediments (of mineral and organic nature). Both near pristine and highly regulated river conditions, typical of most of the alpine environment, will be considered. The project will be essentially based on a mathematical modelling approach. The models will need to account for exchanges between the surface and the sub-surface regions, that are often an important ingredient for these transport processes. Models will be tested against already existing field data and additional field campaigns might be part of the project as well if needed. The case studies will be the nearly-pristine braided Tagliamento River (Friuli Region, NE Italy) and the strongly regulated Noce River (Trento Province, NE Italy) which is channelized and strongly affected by hydropeaking. Morphodynamic and organic matter dispersion in braided rivers M. Tubino, W. Bertoldi The objective of t he proposed research activity is to develop understanding of the physical processes governing wood (or more generally, buoyant particle) dispersal and deposition in braided rivers. This research will lead to cost-effective river management which takes advantage of natural biogeomorphic processes to minimise engineering interventions in river restoration. Although large wood deposition and retention has been demonstrated to be one of the key processes controlling vegetation dynamics in braided rivers as well as large scale river pattern succession, few studies have investigated large wood dispersion processes in such river systems. A multi-channel (braided) pattern is characterised by a highly variable longitudinal and transverse morphology that drives a complex flow field and peculiar inundation dynamics, with increases in width playing a primary role and mean values of depth and velocity being more conservative. Local processes such as bifurcations, confluences, vegetated patches, and sub-surface flow strongly impact the dispersion and deposition of organic matter (wood, leaves, seeds), nutrients and fine sediments. These complex three-dimensional interactions form the focus of this proposal that will address three component objectives: (i) explanation of wood deposition dynamics, in relation to bed topography; (ii) investigation of patterns and quantities of wood transport as a consequence of flow and flood pulses; (iii) assessment of the role of size and shape of wood pieces on the quantity, location and structure/orientation of wood retention. The research integrates different approaches (field observations, laboratory modelling, theoretical analysis) to address its objectives and will be conducted in collaboration with international partners (King s College London; IGB Berlin). Dinamica dello scambio di soluti tra acqua e sedimenti degli alvei, e conseguenti implicazioni per la qualità delle acque fluviali e lacustri The dynamics of solutes exchange between water and bed sediments, and its implication in river and lake water quality M. Righetti, P. Bertola, M. Ragazzi, M. Tubino Questa ricerca è dedicata all analisi sperimentale e teorica dello scambio di soluti tra l acqua e i sedimenti degli alvei. Saranno analizzati dapprima l effetto idrodinamico del flusso idrico sul rilascio di nutrienti dei sedimenti e successivamente il trasporto e la trasformazione dei soluti nel corpo idrico. La ricerca sarà condotta per mezzo di studi teorici, numerici e sperimentali. Saranno effettuati degli esperimenti in una canaletta di laboratorio impiegando tecniche di analisi delle immagini per le misure di concentramento e le tecniche LDA, PIV, PTV per la caratterizzazione su campo della velocità e la stima sperimentale del coefficiente di diffusione-dispersione, anche sulla base della teoria di Taylor. Il PdE che sovrintende alle equazioni sarà definito (anche in caso di traccianti reattivi scalari, come l ossigeno dissolto) e risolto a differenti livelli (concentrazioni, ecc.) e secondo le condizioni iniziali, stimate sulla base delle misure su

3 campo sulla colonna d acqua e sul materiale del fondo. The research is addressed to the experimental and theoretical analysis of solutes exchange between water and bed sediments. The hydrodynamic effect of water flow on sediments nutrient release will be analysed. Solutes transport and transformations in the water body will then be analysed. The research will be developed by means of theoretical, numerical and experimental studies. Experiments: will be performed in a laboratory open channel flow, using image analysis techniques for the concentration measurements and LDA, PIV, PTV techniques for the velocity field characterization and experimental estimation of the diffusion-dispersion coefficient, on the basis also of Taylor theory. The PdE governing equations will be defined (also in case of reactive scalar tracers, like the Dissolved Oxigen) and resolved for different boundary (concentrations, bed roughness, etc.) and initial conditions, estimated on the basis of field measurements on the water column and on the bed material. Hydrodynamic critical conditions for sediments resuspension could also be studied and the solutes release potential capacity of suspended sediment particles will be characterized. Processi dell'atmosfera e del clima in ambiente montano e pedemontano Atmosphere and climate processes in mountain and piedmont environment D. Zardi In ambito meteorologico si propone lo studio di processi atmosferici in aree montane, connessi allo sviluppo di sistemi di venti di valle e di pendio, ivi inclusi i processi dovuti alla turbolenza nello strato limite atmosferico. L'attività di ricerca può comprendere sia misure di campo con la relativa analisi dei dati, sia simulazione numerica mediante modelli meteorologici. L'attività di ricerca è di norma orientata allo studio di processi atmosferici rilevanti per diverse applicazioni: riduzione dell'inquinamento atmosferico, previsioni meteorologiche, valutazione del potenziale eolico, agrometeorologia, ecc. In ambito climatologico si propone la ricerca, la validazione, la ricostruzione e l'analisi di lunghe serie storiche di dati strumentali per la caratterizzazione climatologica di determinate aree e la individuazione di possibili tendenze climatologiche di lungo periodo. Ulteriori dettagli al sito: In the field of meteorology, the proposed research topics concern atmospheric phenomena in mountain regions, occurring in connection with the development of valley- and slope-wind systems, including turbulent processes in the atmospheric boundary layer. The research activity may include either field measurements and data analysis, or numerical simulation with meteorological models. The proposed activity is usually oriented towards the study of processes relevant for various applications, such as prevention of air pollution, weather forecast, assessment of wind power, agricultural meteorology, etc. In the field of climatology the proposed research topic is the retrieval, validation, reconstruction and analysis of long time series of instrumental data for specific areas and the detection of possible long term climate trends. Further details at the website: Landslide and debris flow triggering and erosion thresholds R. Rigon The goal of this research line is to develop and asses models of terrains instabilities through mathematical and numerical modeling and the validation of models by means of field experiments. These last will be prepared jointly with other institutions. The determination of interval of confidence for the models outputs will be also a target of the research. Use and development of GIS based techniques (based on JGRASS) and the systematic use of remote sensed data will also be pursued. Idrodinamica e morfologia degli alvei vegetati Hydrodynamics and morphology of vegetated riverbeds A. Armanini, M. Righetti In the last decades there has been an increasing use of live materials in rivers, such as living bushes, in order to reduce the environmental impact of banks stabilisation. One of the problems due to plants presence is the high resistance to flow that they induce, the other is the effect of the vegetation on the structure of the turbulent flow field and on the reduction of the sediment transport capacity. The research will concern these two kinds of problem. In-stream contaminant dynamics A. Bellin, D. Tonina What is the role of hyphoreic and riparian flows on the fate of in-stream nutrients and contaminants? Hyporheic and riparian zones are extremely rich ecotones where solute uptake and transformations take place with kinetics mainly controlled by the solute residence time within the streambed sediment. While the hyporheic zone is the saturated band of sediment that surrounds the river and forms a linkage between rivers and shallow aquifers, riparian areas act as buffer zones between hillslope and river dynamics affecting runoff generation and solute transport at the reach and larger scales. Solute residence time within the hyporheic and riparian zones is primarily controlled by a complex interplay among in-stream and subsurface water flows and channel morphology. Additionally, vegetation introduces further complexity in the riparian zones because of its feedback on soil moisture. Understanding the dynamics of these processes and subsequently modeling them are the first steps toward an improved management of rivers and theirs watersheds. The main objective of this project is to improve our knowledge on hyporheic and riparian flows, to highlight their differences, and most importantly, to model the impact of chemical and biological processes controlling solute (for example contaminants and nutrients) uptake.

4 Efficienza idrodinamica di ossigenatori ipolimnici e loro utilizzo nei processi di risanamento dei laghi Hydrodynamic efficiency of hypolimnetic oxygenation devices and their use in lake recovery M. Ragazzi, M. Righetti, M. Toffolon La ricerca si propone di studiare i processi di diffusione/dispersione dell ossigeno nelle acque più profonde (ipolimniche) dei laghi. Di norma, infatti, in presenza di stratificazione termica l ipolimnio presenta concentrazioni ridotte di ossigeno. L ossigenazione forzata è d altra parte un processo molto complesso e la valutazione dei meccanismi che si innescano richiede un approccio multidisciplinare che deve prendere in considerazione l idrodinamica indotta dai sistemi di alimentazione dell ossigeno, la chimica delle sostanze organiche e inorganiche coinvolte e l influenza del ciclo dei nutrienti sulla componente biologica. Gli obiettivi della ricerca sono la definizione di un modello matematico in grado di simulare l effetto di un ossigenatore e lo studio della complessa trama di interazioni tra l idrodinamica e le reazioni biochimiche. La parte idrodinamica potrà eventualmente essere simulata anche con modello fisico con l utilizzo di tecniche LDA e di analisi di immagine. The research aims at studying oxygen diffusion/dispersion processes in the deepest (hypolimnetic) waters of a lake. In fact, thermal stratification usually determines reduced oxygen concentrations in the hypolimnion. On the other hand, forced oxygenation is complex process. The comprehension of the mechanisms involved requires a multidisciplinary approach, which must take into account the hydrodynamics induced by oxygenation devices, the chemistry of the organic and inorganic substances and the influence of the nutrient cycle on the biological component. The goals of the research are the definition of a mathematical model able to simulate the effect of oxygenation devices and to study the complex interactions between hydrodynamics and biochemical reactions. The hydrodynamics might also be studied by means of a physical model with LDA and image analysis techniques. Eco-morphological model of a tidal system: the case of Venice lagoon M. Toffolon The research aims at developing a simplified model to simulate the long-term eco-morphological dynamics of a tidal system that will be chosen for its relevance (Venice lagoon). The final objective is to understand the main dynamics in progress and to foresee the consequences of the variations of the external forcing due to climate change and anthropic interventions. The most innovative character of the project is the attempt to couple the biological dynamics with the proper morphological aspects tightly. To this end, the characteristic spatial and temporal scales will be identified concerning the main morphological and ecological processes and the most important parameters will be selected for the description of the phenomena at the different scales. The simplified global model will be developed on the basis of the results of the specific research activities developed within an ongoing national research project, where suitable submodels of the main processes will be identified concerning: bank dynamics and stability of the salt marshes borders; interaction between channels and adjacent tidal flats, also considering the influence of the drainage network and the sediment resuspension due to wind waves; effect of vegetation on the previous processes and on the stability of the system. Metodologie innovative per la caratterizzazione degli acquiferi eterogenei Innovative methodologies for aquifers characterization A. Bellin Contaminant transport in subsurface waters is controlled by spatially variable geochemical and hydraulic properties with the latter often leading to preferential pathways. Accurate identification of this variability is needed to minimize the risk of failure of remediation projects. Therefore, an accurate and cost effective characterization of hydraulic properties of contaminated aquifers is an important prerequisite to any remediation project. This research focuses on developing new methodologies based on the combined use of different techniques such as hydraulic tomography, geophysical surveys, and tracer tests to determine aquifer hydraulic properties. These new models will be important tools in reducing site characterization uncertainty. Synthetic representation of porous and fractured formations will be used to develop and test the techniques, which will be subsequently applied in a field test with a fractured formation. Finally, the spatial variability of hydraulic properties will be analyzed in a Bayesian framework. Effetto delle variazioni climatiche sul trasporto di nutrienti e contaminanti a scala di bacino Climate change and hydrology: their impact on nutrient and contaminant transport at the catchment scale A. Bellin, R. Rigon, D. Tonina Con questo programma di ricerca ci proponiamo di sviluppare nuovi modelli interpretativi e tecnologie d analisi innovative utili alla quantificazione del trasporto di nutrienti e contaminanti a scala di bacino. Particolare attenzione sarà riservata al ruolo del suolo, all interazione fra le acque superficiali e le

5 acque sotterranee in vista anche dell effetto sul ciclo idrologico delle variazioni climatiche in atto. Un importante obiettivo della ricerca riguarda la quantificazione, attraverso modelli predittivi, dell impatto delle variazioni climatiche sul ciclo ideologico e sulle risorse idriche. The overall objective of this research program is to select and improve existing approaches in modeling the impact of climate change, land-use, and management practices on soil-groundwater-river systems. The research will mainly investigate the effects of soil functioning, interaction between surface and subsurface waters, and climate change on the hydrological cycle within the framework of a large intra-center EU research group. An important objective is the quantification of the impact of climate variations on the hydrological cycle and water resources through predictive models. Within this general framework we will analyze the hydrological processes leading to the water and solute exchanges among streams, and theirs surrounding riparian and hyporheic zones. These three systems are connected by a dynamic mixing of theirs waters through the permeable streambed sediment. The riparian zone provides the linkage between hillslope and stream dynamics and the hyporheic zone is the transitional zone connecting in-stream and pore waters. There are several mechanisms that drive these exchanges and they depends on temporal and spatial variations of near-bed pressure, hydraulic conductivity, and alluvial sediment volume. These gradients are present at local and large (i.e. watershed) scales. Several models have been developed to quantify the exchange mostly at scales smaller than the bedform scale. Additionally, recent findings showed the effect of stream network on the fate of in-stream solutes and nutrients. Therefore, there is a need to combine these results in a model that addresses hyporheic and riparian exchange at the watershed scale. This research focuses on developing a hyporheic and riparian exchange model that accounts for varying morphology, alluvial depth, streambed slope, and discharge within a watershed channel network. The application of the model will be important in modelling the fate of solutes and nutrients within a holistic study of the catchment. Additionally, it will provide an important tool to select hot spots where hyporheic exchange is an important process in characterizing both pore and in-stream habitats. Hillslope hydrology A. Bellin, R. Rigon, B. Majone Despite its importance in modeling runoff generation in mountain catchments, the interaction among meteorological events, soil, and geological formations is poorly understood. This project seeks for new approaches for runoff generation through a combined use of distributed modeling and experimental observations. The main objective of this project is a better understanding of the water-soil dynamics, which hopefully will lead to a significant improvement of the available semi-distributed models for runoff generation at the catchment scale. The above objective is pursued focusing on the following three lines of activity (corresponding to three different thesis works): 1) distributed modeling of hillslope processes; 2) laboratory scale investigation of infiltration under time varying rainfall intensities 3) experimental investigation of soil water content at the hillslope scale The impact of climate change and water use on water resources: a basin scale perspective A. Bellin, B. Majone The spatial and temporal availability of meteorological data is the most constraining factor affecting the performance of large scale hydrological models. Usually the spatial location of rain-gauge stations and in general of any meteorological instrument is often limited to easily accessible sites due to maintenance reasons. This is a crucial factor, which leads to large, and often difficult to quantify, uncertainty in the spatial distribution of meteorological data (i.e., precipitation and temperature).furthermore, the lack of reliable state variables, such as soil moisture content, at the proper scale leads to further uncertainty in the modeling results. The aim of this research is to develop a tool for designing efficient monitoring networks capable to capture the spatial and temporal variations of meteorological precipitations and temperature, which are the two primary variables affecting rainfall-runoff modeling. The potential beneficial effect of distributed measurements of streamflow as a surrogate for soil moisture measurements will be also investigated. The activity will involve the use of GeoTransf, a sophisticated continuous hydrological modeling tool that simulates rainfall-runoff processes in a semi-distributed framework at both large and small scales (i.e. the basin and hill-slope scales). The software will serve as a virtual laboratory to provide indications on the design of optimal rain-gauge networks. Long term variations of hydrological fluxes: analysis of the impact of climate change A. Bellin There is a compelling need to understand how climate change will impact the hydrological cycle and water resources at the catchment scale. Results from Global and Regional Climate models indicate trends in temperature and precipitations across Europe, and recently they have been linked by modelling to changes in river flows in UK. Furthermore, trends in water quality have been detected due to the combined effect of changes in hydrological fluxes and soil use. Several studies focused on trend analysis of temperatures and precipitations at the regional scale (see e.g. Frei and Schär, 1998), but the resolution typically adopted is too course to link those variations to streamflow, groundwater storage and water quality variations at the catchment scale. On the other hand, trend analysis of streamflow and other hydrological time series, in most catchments, is hampered by data scarcity. The picture is further complicated by confounding factors such as water withdrawals and hydropeaking, which modify the timing of streamflows and interrupts the river continuum. This task aims to develop guidelines for detecting trends from measurements of streamflow, subsurface water storage and water quality. A first specific objective of this task is to develop techniques for trend detection in streamflow, water storage and water quality at the catchment scale, i.e. a scale that it is difficult to address with the current Climate Models, and separate the effect of climate change from other anthropogenic factors, such as water withdrawals, hydropeaking

6 and soil use. A second objective is to develop methodologies for detecting geographic (spatial) trends based on geostatistical analysis of long time series. Hyporheic Flow at the Valley Scale A. Bellin Scientific Question: What is the role of hyporheic flow in alluvial valley? Where are the hyporheic hot spots? What is the hyporheic distribution within the valley? What are the hyporheic streamline length, flux, and time distributions? What is the effect of heterogeneity and sediment transport patchy? The hyporheic zone is the saturated band of sediment that surrounds the river and forms a linkage between rivers and shallow aquifers. It is an extremely rich ecotone, where solute uptake and transformations occur with kinetics chiefly controlled by the solute residence time within the streambed sediment. Solute residence time is primarily controlled by a complex interplay among in-stream and subsurface water flows and channel morphology. Understanding the dynamics of these processes and subsequently modeling them are the first steps toward a better management of rivers and theirs watersheds. The main objective of this project is to improve our knowledge on hyporheic flows at the watershed or river valley scale to highlight and model the impact of chemical and biological processes controlling solute (for example contaminants and nutrients) uptake. Method: the student will work on these questions using analytical solutions and numerical simulations of the hyporheic flow for a stream flowing in an alluvial valley. This stream presents straight, meandering, and off channel reaches. The Green Lidar (EAARL) technology allows us to have accurate topographies of both terrestrial and aquatic systems. The coupling of topography and two-dimensional surface water models provides the means to predict the near-bed pressure, which drives the hyporheic exchange. Study Site: Bear Valley Creek is a gravel bed river, which flows in large unconfined valley, and confined canyon. Green Lidar surveys are available providing the unique opportunity to study hyporheic flow at the valley scale. This approach has not been done yet except from a model proposed at the continental scale by Worman et al. under very restrictive conditions. Soil-water-plants interactions: an experimental and modelling perspective. B. Majone, A. Bellin The description of the complex interactions among the soil, water, plants and atmosphere within the hydrologic cycle is a key issue in hydrology and earth science. Nonetheless some of the aspects controlling the underlying physical processes still remain poorly understood. The proposed research project aims at improving the knowledge of the relationships existing among hydrological processes, soil properties and plant physiology by means of experimental and modelling activities. The experimental activities will include in situ geophysical observations (ERT 3D imaging), climatic and hydrologic measurements (precipitation and temperatures measurements, monitoring of soil moisture contents and suction heads) and plant water-stress measurements. The experimental site that will be employed in the project is the Maso Maiano apple orchard (Cles, TN), which has been partially instrumented by the University of Trento during previous research projects. The in situ field activities will be complemented, if needed, by laboratory activities aimed at analyzing in details the dynamics of the infiltration processes. The modelling activities will concern with the interpretation of geophysical and hydrologic data collected, aimed at improving our capability of conceptualize the hydrological processes involved. Specific attention will be devoted to the following issues: i) the observed spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture dynamics in the root zone, and of the related exchange terms with the atmosphere and the groundwater (evapotranspiration and recharge). Moreover, the long-term analysis of some key hydrologic variables (soil moisture and evapotranspiration) will allow inferring the relationships existing with stochastic climatic forcings; ii) the development of a suitable plant-physiology model for the apple trees able to interpretate the observed water stress measurements. This activity will be conducted in collaboration with Pr. Ralf Ludwig of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (Munich, Germany); iii) the characterization of the infiltration mechanism. The latter will be analyzed via a two-phase distributed model able to cope with the subsurface flow in partially saturated soils. This model is based on a 3D numerical solver of the Richards equation in porous media and it is has been recently developed by the University of Padua. The approach will allow us to conduct a detailed analysis of the infiltration process which will contribute to a better understanding of soil moisture dynamics under strongly non-stationary climatic forcing. Moto dei fluidi a scale micrometriche Fluid motion at micrometric scales L. Fraccarollo, M. Grigiante In questi ultimi anni lo studio del moto dei fluidi in domini spaziali di dimensioni confrontabili con la dimensione molecolare, o comunque tali da mettere in discussioni le ipotesi di base della meccanica dei fluidi classica, ha conseguito risultati importanti sia in ambito scientifico che in quello applicativo ingegneristico. L analisi dei fenomeni che avvengono a livello molecolare promette innovazioni di rilievo in svariati settori della tecnologia nei prossimi decenni. L'elemento fisico basilare consiste nel fatto che alle scale micro e nanometriche i processi di scambio di massa, energia e quantità di moto sono fortemente incrementati. Allo stato attuale della conoscenza rimane da investigare una serie rilevante di problematiche fondamentali. La presente proposta intende pertanto offrire la possibilità di approfondire sia da un punto di visto teorico che sperimentale il moto di fluidi a scale spaziali piccole rispetto a quelle

7 consuete della meccanica del continuo, in un ambito disciplinare che coinvolge il sapere scientifico ed ingegneristico. In the last years microtechnology and nanotechnology has not only emerged as a new area of science and engineering but it also has become an integral part of almost all natural science and engineering disciplines. The study of these disciplines results in close interactions across the boundaries of many traditional sciences. Knowledge of physical behavior at molecular levels plays more and more an important role in our understanding of the fundamental processes occurring in macro world and enable us to design and develop novel devices and machines. The key issue associated with miniaturization is the tremendous increase in heat and mass transfer processes. Knowledge of these phenomenon from the micrometric scale down to the nanometric scale is of critical importance to future technological growth. The proposed activity will move from the base knowledge of these fundamental study both on theoretical and experimental point of view. Dynamics of karst systems A. Bellin, M. Becker (Univ. of Buffalo), A. Borsato (Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali) Karst systems are repository of high quality water resources in the Alps. Despite their importance, the dynamics of karst systems is poorly understood. In this research we investigate the karst aquifer of the Dolomiti del Brenta ridge northeast of Italy, one of the most important karst systems of the Trentino province. Investigations are conducted at an experimental site located near the rifugio Alimonta. At Alimonta we will investigate how fractures combine to create a complex system where a backbone of preferential flowpaths activated during intense storms is superimposed on a network of small fractures providing storage capacity to the whole system. Although karst aquifers are widely recognized as one of the most important water resource of the globe, their hydrologic behavior is poorly understood. Quantitative analysis, including estimation of their storing capacity, is seriously hampered by the very limited prediction capabilities of existing models. This is entirely due to the lack of efficient methodologies for characterizing the formidable heterogeneity of hydraulic parameters. The Alimonta superficial karst system is a relatively controlled environment showing the typical characteristics of a mature karst system which is locally drained by a nearly horizontal cave emerging from a natural outcrop at a few hundred meters east of the rifugio Alimonta. This is an ideal situation for shedding light on the behavior of karst systems. Gestione delle risorse ambientali, energia e ingegneria sanitaria Environmental resources management, energy and sanitary engineering Tecnologie avanzate per la riduzione dei fanghi di supero negli impianti di trattamento delle acque reflue. Advanced technologies for excess sludge reduction in municipal wastewater treatment plants G. Andreottola, P. Foladori A seguito dell incremento dei costi di smaltimento dei fanghi di depurazione, l introduzione di processi di riduzione dei fanghi di supero nella linea acque e/o nella linea fanghi costituisce una delle priorità di intervento. La ricerca proposta è finalizzata allo sviluppo, alla sperimentazione a scala di laboratorio ed alla modellazione di un processo innovativo di riduzione fanghi, basato sull integrazione di processi chimico-fisici e biologici. La configurazione ottimizzata del processo verrà quindi applicata a livello dimostrativo nella Provincia Autonoma di Trento. Because of the increasing cost of sludge disposal, the introduction of advanced sludge reduction technologies in the wastewater or sludge treatment line is a major challenge for most wastewater treatment plants. The proposed research deals with the development, experimental trial and modelling of an innovative optimized combination of biological and physical-chemical sludge treatment. The developed optimized process will be applied at demonstrative scale in the province of Trento. Applicazione della citometria di flusso per il rilevamento e la quantificazione di specifici batteri ed indicatori fecali nel ciclo delle acque. Application of flow cytometry techniques for the detection and quantification of specific bacteria and faecal indicators in the water cycle P. Foladori Le acque reflue sono fonte primaria di contaminazione fecale degli ecosistemi acquatici e ne determinano una significativa alterazione delle funzionalità ecologiche a causa della quantità e varietà dei microrganismi fecali, tra cui anche specie patogene per l uomo. La disinfezione degli effluenti dei depuratori è pertanto uno stadio essenziale per la salvaguardia della qualità del corpo idrico recettore. Per superare le limitazioni delle tecniche di monitoraggio del processo di disinfezione, basate su colture su piastre, sono state proposte delle potenziali alternative per il rilevamento diretto degli indicatori fecali, basate su analisi rapide enzimatiche e fluorimetriche. La ricerca proposta è finalizzata allo sviluppo di una tecnica fluoro-citometrica rapida ed efficiente per il rilevamento della contaminazione fecale negli effluenti dei depuratori e nelle acque superficiali. I metodi rapidi sono essenziali per l ottimizzazione in tempo

8 reale dei processi di disinfezione, per individuare e caratterizzare le fonti di inquinamento e per monitorare acque destinate ad uso ricreativo. Wastewater effluent are a major source of faecal contamination of aquatic ecosystems and cause severe disturbance in their ecological functioning due to the large quantity and wide variety of faecal micro-organisms, including pathogens for humans. Disinfection of wastewater effluents is therefore a central issue in safeguarding the quality of receiving bodies. In order to overcome limitations of culture based techniques in monitoring disinfection processes, potential alternatives for the direct detection of microbial faecal indicator have been proposed, based on rapid enzymatic and fluorimetric assays. The proposed research aims to develop a rapid and efficient fluoro-cytometric technique for detection of faecal pollution in wastewater treatment plant effluents and in receiving waters. Rapid methods are essential in performing realtime optimization of disinfection processes, determining source of pollution and operational managing of recreational waters. Ottimizzazione della gestione dei fanghi di depurazione per la massimizzazione della generazione di idrogeno Optimization of the sewage sludge management for the maximization of hydrogen generation G. Andreottola, M. Ragazzi This doctoral research belongs to the sector of sewage sludge management. The recent developments of the researches in this field have pointed out the need of a deeper coordination among the technical choices at the wastewater treatment plant, where sludge is generated, and the ones downstream the plant, where sludge can be exploited for its energy content. The proposed research will deal with the overall history of sludge, from its generation to its disposal, taking into account a final aim: the production of hydrogen. The research will go beyond the typical Life Cycle Analysis approach as, from the environmental point of view, it will take into account, after validation, the latest methods suitable for expressing a mix of pollutants in terms of equivalence of impact. Other original aspects that will be developed concern for instance, the analysis of strategies aimed to save volatile solids at the wastewater treatment plant (the controversial role of anaerobic digestion and the problems of dewatering non-stabilized sludge will be studied) and the integration of the sludge exploitation with other biomasses. More in general, the research will take into account energy and mass balances, economical aspects, environmental and health impact. A collaboration with a company working in the sector of hydrogen has been planned. Bonifica di vecchie discariche mediante barriere reattive innovative Remediation of old landfills by innovative reactive barriers G. Andreottola, M. Ragazzi The doctoral research belongs to the sector of old landfills remediation. The recent developments of research showed that reactive barriers are a promising technical solution for treating the leachate plume generated by old municipal waste landfills. The proposed research will be aimed at evaluating the best design criteria for constructing a reactive barrier for old landfills. In particular sequenced permeable reactive barriers will be experimentally studied at lab-scale with the use of different materials (zeolites, ZVI, ORC). Removal efficiency of ammonia, COD, AOX and heavy metals will be measured and optimal design criteria will be defined. Innovative barriers base on electrochemical reactions will be also evaluated in comparison to passive reactive barriers. Sviluppo di criteri per la minimizzazione dell'impatto di percorsi sottostimati di esposizione umana ad inquinanti atmosferici Development of criteria for the impact minimization of underestimated patways of human exposure to atmospheric pollutants M. Ragazzi Questa ricerca di dottorato ha come obiettivo quello di fornire un contributo scientifico al miglioramento delle normative ambientali verificando le anomalie che emergono confrontando diversi percorsi di esposizione umana nel settore dell'ingegneria sanitaria. Questo approccio deve svilupparsi nell'ambito di una rete multi-disciplinare. This doctoral research is aimed to give a scientific contribution for the improvement of environmental regulations checking the anomalies when human exposure is compared from pathway to pathway in the sector of sanitary engineering. This approach must develop in a multi-disciplinary network. Water treatment technologies and design for sustainable access to basic water services in developing countries G. Andreottola, M. Ragazzi, G. Zolezzi The aim of the project is to improve the present knowledge on sound technical and management practices leading to sustainable basic water supply and sanitation services in rural and peri-urban areas in developing countries. The technical focus will be on water treatment and sanitation technologies, with possible focus on systems aimed at facilitating water re-use in water scarce areas. The management focus will be on the development and testing of appropriate indicators that can be used to prioritize actions and to monitor progress accounting for both technical, cultural and socio-economic key elements. The project will be strongly based on case studies from small to medium scale

9 development cooperation projects focussed on the improvement of access to basic water supply and sanitation. Some of these projects are presently based in Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Peru, Madagascar and Rwanda. The research will partly make use of existing data but extensive field and experimental data collection will be needed for the specific purposes of the research. The research will be strongly applied to the environmental, social and institutional context and will require strong interaction with local stakeholders involved in planning and implementing water supply and sanitation projects. Modellazione dei fenomeni di natural attenuation e di enhanced bioremediation negli acquiferi contaminati Modelling of natural attenuation and enhanced bioremediation phenomena in polluted aquifers G. Andreottola, A. Bellin Scopo della ricerca è la messa a punto di un modello integrato di trasporto e di qualità delle acque sotterranee da utilizzare per la simulazione di interventi di bonifica di acquiferi contaminati da composti organici a diverso grado di biodegradabilità. La tesi comprenderà tre fasi di attività: 1) sviluppo di metodologie appropriate per la determinazione a scala di laboratorio delle costanti (biomasse attiva adesa al terreno e sospesa nel bulk, velocità di crescita e decadimento, velocità di rimozione dei contaminanti); 2) sviluppo di un modello di simulazione integrato di trasporto e di qualità e sua calibrazione in modello fisico di laboratorio; 3) calibrazione del modello con dati di campo acquisiti mediante le metodologie sviluppate nel primo punto. The aim of the proposed research is the development of an integrated model for groundwater quality and transport to be used for simulating the effect of remediation strategies of aquifers contaminated by organic compounds with different degrees of biodegradability. The PhD thesis will include three activity phases: 1) development of appropriate methodologies for lab-scale determination of biodegradation parameters (active biomass in the bulk and in the soil, biomass decay and growth kinetics, contaminant removal biokinetic), 2) development of an integrated simulation model of aquifer quality and transport and its calibration using a lab-scale physical model; 3) calibration of the model with field data gathered with the methodologies applied in point 1). Gassificazione/pirolisi /combustione di biomasse: ottimizzazione del processo Biomass gasification / pyrolysis / combustion: process optimization P. Baggio, M. Grigiante La possibilità di impiego delle biomasse come combustibile di origine rinnovabile, sostitutivo di quelli fossili, è in larga parte legato alla possibilità di ottenere dalla materia grezza di partenza prodotti di elevata qualità utilizzabili come combustibili a basso impatto ambientale. Il progetto di ricerca è focalizzato su sistemi di taglia medio-piccola, potenzialmente utilizzabili in applicazioni (anche rurali) di cogenerazione diffusa, ed ha come oggetto sia la modellazione del processo, anche al fine di sviluppare strumenti di predimensionamento, sia l'esecuzione di attività sperimentali (inclusa la messa a punto di apparati sperimentali) anche in collaborazione con altri enti di ricerca/università. The actual exploitation of biomass as a renewable fuel, aimed at replacing traditional fossil fuels, is largely dependent upon the possibility to obtain, starting from the raw material, high quality products to be employed as low-environmental impact fuels. The research project is focused on medium and small size systems, for use in distributed chp generation applications (possibly also rural) and is aimed both at modeling the process, with the purpose to develop pre-sizing tools, and to experimental activities (including the set-up of experimental apparata) also in cooperation with other university/research institutions. Prestazione energetica degli edifici: comportamento dinamico Energy performance of buildings: dynamic behaviour P. Baggio, M. Grigiante Il comportamento degli edifici in regime dinamico è di fondamentale importanza nel periodo estivo ma è rilevante anche al fine dello sfruttamento degli apporti gratuiti di energia nel periodo invernale, in particolare dove l'insolazione è elevata. La modellazione del comportamento dinamico usualmente si basa su reti di resistenze e capacità/funzioni di trasferimento (cf Energy-Plus e Trnsys) che non sempre descrivono correttamente il comportamento delle strutture con capacità termica elevata e l'interazione dell'involucro con le capacità termiche presenti all'interno Qualche problema sembra anche presentare la norma EN ISO proposta a livello europeo. Scopo del progetto di ricerca è quindi l'affinamento e la verifica dei modelli correntemente utilizzati eventualmente ricorrendo a modellazione agli elementi finiti di edifici o porzioni degli stessi. Le simulazioni serviranno anche per l'analisi delle condizioni di benessere presenti all'interno dell'edificio in legno sia per quanto riguarda i tassi di ventilazione che per gli aspetti termoigrometrici (in particolare, l'applicazione dei protocolli di qualificazione come LEED nella zona della pianura padano-veneta non può prescindere dalle valutazioni relative agli scambi di calore latente data ti gli elevati tassi di umidità presenti). Quando disponibili, verranno inoltre utilizzati i dati direttamente rilevati in alcuni edifici. The dynamic behaviour of buildings is of fundamental importance in the summer period, but it is also quite significant for the exploitation of the internal heat gains in the winter period, especially when solar gains are high. A model of the

10 dynamic behavior of buildings is usually based on a resistor and capacity network and/or on transfer functions (cf Energy-Plus and Trnsys) that not always can identify correctly the behavior of the structures with high thermal capacities and the interactions between the envelope and the interior heat capacity. Some problems seem to affect also the European standard EN-ISO 13790:2008. The aim of the research project is, then, the refinement and the verification of the modeling approach currently in use, possibly making use of the finite element method to model buildings or part of them. The simulation will be also useful to analyze the micro-climate comfort conditions inside the buildings taking into account both ventilation and thermal and humidity parameters. (in particular, the application of qualification protocols such as LEED in the Po valley and the Venetian plain cannot neglect the evaluation of latent heat exchanges because of the high humidity climate found in that area). Moreover, for the dynamic model validation, also real data collected in actual building will be used, if available. Prestazione energetica degli edifici: accoppiamento edificio impianti ad energie rinnovabili Energy performance of buildings: coupling of building with renewable energy sources systems P. Baggio, M. Grigiante Le tipologie impiantistiche normalmente adottate nel contesto italiano, prevalentemente basate su sistemi ad acqua, stanno orientandosi verso applicazioni a bassa temperatura e stanno subendo una rapida evoluzione dettata dalla necessità di integrare in maniera più decisa le fonti rinnovabili e aumentare notevolmente l'efficienza. Recenti disposizioni legislative (e.g. D.lgs 192/2005 come modificato da D.Lgs. 311/2006), ad esempio, hanno richiesto l'impiego di fonti rinnovabili per coprire il 50% del fabbisogno di acqua calda sanitaria. Il progetto di ricerca è pertanto orientato alla modellazione del sistema edificio-impianto per ottimizzare soluzioni impiantistiche specifiche (e.g. pannelli solari termici, caldaie ad alta efficienza, sistema di ventilazione controllata, pompa di calore geotermica, solar cooling, etc.). Dato l'importanza particolare che riveste nel contesto montano, verrà investigata l'integrazione dei collettori solari con un sistema di produzione di acqua calda da caldaia a biomassa. Verrà inoltre effettuata una serie di attività sperimentali legata all'integrazione di collettori solari di ultima generazione con gli impianti al servizio degli edifici. volte ad investigare le prestazioni termiche degli stessi collettori in relazione sia ai parametri meteorologici più significativi quali la radiazione incidente, la nuvolosità, la velocità del vento ecc. che alle condizioni operative dei pannelli quali la tipologia delle coperture, il posizionamento, le caratteristiche di fluidi termovettori ecc. Ciò anche al fine di mettere a punto un modello dinamico di simulazione dedicato e verificarne l'affidabilità. Questo aspetto è di rilevante interesse non solo per l impiego tradizionale dei collettori solari (riscaldamento di acqua calda ad uso sanitario), ma anche per applicazioni avanzate quale integrazione con altri sistemi, solar cooling etc.. The HVAC systems commonly installed in the Italian context, mainly based on hydronic systems, are pointing toward low temperature applications and are undergoing a fast evolution propelled by the need of a better integration with renewable sources and a higher efficiency. Recent laws (e.g. D.lgs 192/2005 as amended by D.Lgs. 311/2006), for example, require to use renewable sources to cover at least 50% of the domestic hot water energy need. The research project, therefore, is aimed at modeling the building -HVAC coupling in order to optimize specific plant solutions (e.g. thermal solar collectors, high efficiency boilers, indoor ventilation systems, geothermal heat pumps, solar cooling, etc.). In addition, the integration of thermal solar collectors with a biomass fuelled boiler will be investigated in view of the special importance of this approach in mountain areas. Moreover, a series of experimental activities will be performed about the integration of last generation thermal solar collectors with the building HVAC systems to investigate the performance of the solar collectors as a function both of the outdoor climate parameters such as incident solar radiation, clouds, wind velocity etc, and of the operating conditions of the collectors such as roof type, placement, properties of the heat transfer fluids etc. This, also in order to develop a dedicated simulation model and to check its reliability. This is quite important not only for the traditional systems (i.e. domestic hot water production) but also for advanced applications such as integration with other sub-systems, solar cooling, etc. Scenari di utilizzo energetico di vinaccia esausta Scenarios of energetic use of exhausted grape marc L. Fiori, M. Ragazzi Exhausted grape marc is a by-product/waste of the wine and spirits industry. The generated amount is significant: only Italy produces over one million of tons of exhausted grape marc every year and presents characteristic problems (relatively high contents of copper, significant presence of phenols). The present research is aimed to the development of different scenarios, alternatives or integrated, of energy use of the exhausted grape marc. In spite of a relatively high content of water, the high content of volatile solids makes the energy way interesting. It is clear that an initial pre-treatment aimed to water evaporation is a viable way. Innovative (as biodrying) and conventional pre-treatments will be studied to this concern also at lab and pilot scale levels in order to develop optimized scenarios. The coupling of pre-treatment and thermo-chemical processes (combustion, gasification) will be analyzed through modeling of the overall approach. As an alternative, the viability of anaerobic digestion of grape marc will be studied at lab scale in order to generate data for a correct comparison among scenarios. The comparison will take into account energy and mass balances, economical aspects, operational problems, health risk and environmental impact. The final part of the research will deal with case-studies development taking into account Italian and foreign scenarios. The seasonal production of grape marc will be taken into account.

11 Processi innovativi di valorizzazione di biomassa: estrazione e frazionamento con solvente supercritico Innovative processes for biomass exploitation: supercritical extraction and fractionation L. Fiori Il progetto di ricerca intende analizzare il possibile utilizzo di residuo vegetale ed animale di scarto dell industria agro-industriale quale substrato da cui ricavare sostanze di interesse alimentare e farmaceutico. In particolare i substrati di interesse sono: - la vinaccia (substrato residuale delle operazioni di vinificazione e distillazione); - gli scarti dell industria del pesce. Dalla vinaccia è possibile ricavare il pregiato olio di vinacciolo, dagli scarti dell industria del pesce oli ricchi nei più importanti omega3 (EPA, DHA), di interesse anche farmaceutico. La tecnologia oggetto della ricerca è quella che utilizza solvente supercritico. Verranno studiati sia processi di estrazione di olio sia processi di frazionamento di olio nelle componenti di maggiore interesse, gli omega 3. Il lavoro è finalizzato ad una attività di ricerca applicata che l esperienza ha mostrato efficacemente sostenuta dal procedere parallelo di simulazione e sperimentazione, in un rapporto di verifica e guida reciproca. La ricerca prevede l approfondimento di aspetti sia impiantistici che di processo (termodinamici, cinetici) e si avvarrà di software commerciali di simulazione di processo (Aspen) e di modelli e codici di calcolo in parte già sviluppati e in parte da sviluppare. La parte di sperimentazione si avvarrà di un laboratorio dotato di un impianto di estrazione supercritica e di facilities analitiche. Più sofisticate apparecchiature analitiche saranno messe a disposizione da laboratori partner nella ricerca (Laboratori di Fisica e Chimica Organica). The research project will analyze the possible use of agro-industrial waste as a source of compounds interesting for the food and pharmaceutical sector. In particular, the substrates of interest are represented by: - Grape marc (residual substrate from fermentation and distillation operations); - Solid waste from the fish industry. From grape marc, high quality grape-seed oil can be obtained. The waste from the fish industry can be exploited to get oils rich in the major omega3 (EPA, DHA), oils which are of pharmaceutical interest. The technology under study foresees the utilization of supercritical solvents. The research will cover both the fields of supercritical extraction and supercritical fractionation. Supercritical fractionation will focus on the enrichment of the oils in the components of interest, omega 3. The work is aimed at an applied research, which experience has shown to proceed efficiently when supported by parallel simulation and experimentation in a relationship of mutual verification and guidance. The research considers both plant and process aspects (design, thermodynamic, kinetic). The research will use commercial software for process simulation (Aspen) and models and computer codes already partly developed and partly to develop during the research. The experimental work will be performed in a laboratory equipped with a supercritical extraction plant and some analytical facilities. More sophisticated analytical equipments could be utilized in the laboratory of research partners (Laboratory of Physics and Organic Chemistry). Processi di valorizzazione di biomassa in applicazioni energetiche innovative Innovative energetic processes for biomass exploitation L. Fiori L impiego della biomassa come risorsa rinnovabile ben si inserisce in una politica energetica sostenibile e può valorizzare il territorio ipotizzando l uso di risorse locali, quali scarti della pulizia dei boschi o della lavorazione della vite (vinaccia), oppure proponendo applicazioni innovative di interesse generale, quale il recupero di frazioni lipidiche dalle biomasse che ne contengono. La ricerca proposta affronta tematiche di estrema attualità quali la trasformazione di biomasse in combustibili gassosi e liquidi. All interno di questo vasto campo potranno venire prese in considerazione: - la produzione di syngas attraverso processi termochimici (pirolisi, gassificazione) con eventuale accoppiamento a celle a combustibile. - la produzione di biodiesel attraverso processi di estrazione della frazione lipidica degli scarti e successiva trasformazione; La ricerca prevede l approfondimento di aspetti sia di impianto che di processo (termodinamici, cinetici, fluidodinamici). La ricerca si avvarrà di software commerciali di simulazione di processo (Aspen, Comsol) e di modelli e codici di calcolo in parte già sviluppati e in parte da sviluppare durante la ricerca. Il lavoro è finalizzato ad una attività di ricerca applicata che l esperienza ha mostrato efficacemente sostenuta dal procedere parallelo di simulazione e sperimentazione, in un rapporto di verifica e guida reciproca. Per la parte di sperimentazione ci si avvarrà di contatti esistenti con altri partner di ricerca.

12 The exploitation of biomass as a renewable resource fits well in a sustainable energy policy and can valorise the territory by the use of local resources, such as waste from forest cleaning and by-products of the grape-processing (grape marc), or by proposing innovative applications of general interest, such as the recovery of lipid fractions from oily biomass. The proposed research addresses highly topical issues such as the conversion of biomass in gaseous and liquid fuels. Within this vast field it will be considered: - The production of syngas by thermo-chemical processes (pyrolysis, gasification) with the possible coupling fuel cell. - Biodiesel production through processes of extraction of the lipid fraction from the waste and subsequent processing; The research considers both plant and process aspects (design, thermodynamic, kinetic, fluid dynamics). The research will use commercial software for process simulation (Aspen, Comsol) and models and computer codes already partly developed and partly to develop during the research. The work is aimed at an applied research, which experience has shown to proceed efficiently when supported by parallel simulation and experimentation in a relationship of mutual verification and guidance. The experimental work will occur through existing contacts with research partners. Affidabilità ed efficienza delle reti di distribuzione idrica: aspetti quantitativi e qualitativi Reliability and efficiency of water distribution network P. Bertola L attività di ricerca comprende sia lo studio dei simulatori delle reti di distribuzione idrica, sia la messa a punto delle tecniche migliori per la progettazione e gestione delle reti, al fine di incrementare l affidabilità finale delle medesime, avendo anche riguardo ai problemi di qualità tipici dell acqua potabile. The research deals with the study of hydraulic network simulation problems and with the study of design and managing of hydraulic network; the aim of the research is the reliability increasing of the whole system with a deep knowledge of some qualitative aspect involved by drinking water. Centrali mini-hydro: aspetti idrologici e impiantistici Mini-hydro plants: hydrological aspects and set-up P. Bertola I piccoli impianti idroelettrici (potenza nominale inferiore a 3-10 MW) offrono il vantaggio di un impatto ambientale molto ridotto e di rendere minimo il problema del trasporto dell energia perché sono essi stessi distribuiti nell ambiente. Tra questi impianti possono essere in genere compresi anche quelli realizzati lungo le adduttrici degli acquedotti con forte dislivello tra la zona di produzione e quella di distribuzione dell acqua potabile. In entrambi i casi sono richiesti accurati studi idrologici sulla disponibilità dell acqua e sull ottimizzazione del macchinario idraulico. Mini-hydro plants (power less than 3-10 MW) have a very low environmental impact and minimize electricity transport problems because they are all distributed over territory. In this type of plants are often included those built in water supply pipes with a high drop before distribution network. Both plants need deep and careful studies in the field of hydrology and about hydraulic machines efficiency. Centrali idroelettriche e compatibilità ambientale Hydroelectric plants and environmental problems P. Bertola L impatto ambientale degli impianti idroelettrici è notoriamente elevato e crescente passando dagli impianti ad acqua fluente a quelli con bacino di regolazione. Il rispetto del deflusso minimo vitale e la possibilità per la fauna acquatica di poter risalire i corsi d acqua rappresentano i vincoli ambientali che oggi determinano la possibilità di realizzare tali opere. Environmental impact of hydroelectric plants is rather high and growing from direct ones to plants with reservoir. The respect of minimum vital discharge and the presence of passages for fishes constitute nowadays the environmental constrains for constructing of such works. Integrazione di reti di sensori e database spaziali per il monitoraggio Sensors network and spatial database integration for monitoring P. Zatelli Il progetto riguarda l'utilizzo dei moderni servizi OGC per la realizzazione, la gestione e l'utilizzo di reti di sensori. La ricerca si occupa un monitoraggio di un sito di interesse geotecnico: si utilizza un nuovo approccio alla gestione di un tipo di monitoraggio ormai classico. Il numero elevato di sensori e soprattutto la loro eterogeneità costituiscono una sfida rispetto alle implementazioni correnti dei sistemi Sensor Observation Service (SOS). Tale sistema integrerà un Sensor Observation Service (SOS) ed un Web Processing Service (WPS), definiti dall'open Gis Consorzium (OGC), per integrare attraverso il web la gestione dei sensori, la gestione dei dati e la loro elaborazione. Contrariamente a quello che succede per le reti solitamente gestite attraverso SOS, i siti di monitoraggio geotecnico coinvolgono un elevato numero di strumenti eterogenei, che portano spesso a misure ridondanti, in cui l'aspetto di taratura degli strumenti e validazione dei dati è fondamentale e deve essere effettuato ad intervalli di tempo brevi. Per

13 questo motivo sarà realizzata una struttura apposita in un DBMS, in grado di implementare le procedure per la validazione in tempo reale dei dati acquisiti. Per la presenza di una componente spaziale sia nelle misure che nelle grandezze che da esse si vogliono determinare, si utilizzerà un DBMS con estensione spaziale. L'interfaccia verso l'utenza, verrà realizzato attraverso un WebGIS dinamico, che possa visualizzare la grandezze misurate in forma cartografica, in forma tabellare e in forma di grafici che rappresentano ad esempio il loro andamento nel tempo. Il sistema sarà in grado di elaborare alcuni modelli a partire dai dati raccolti, utilizzando un Web Processing Service (WPS), integrando i servizi di gestione dati via web, come un WebGIS, un DBMS spaziale e un sistema GIS. Dato l'ambito innovativo della applicazione di un Sensor Observation Service, si dovranno valutare le implementazioni attualmente disponibili sia in termini di aderenza agli standard OGC sia in rapporto con le funzionalità richieste per il sistema che si vuole realizzare. Si dovranno probabilmente sviluppare elementi nuovi del sistema, scrivendo software originale. Allo stesso modo, la realizzazione di un servizio per l'elaborazione di modelli tramite un WPS richiederà l'individuazione dell'ambiente idoneo per lo sviluppo dei modelli e l'integrazione di diversi sistemi DBMS, GIS e WPS veri e propri, con la scrittura di nuovo codice. Il sistema sarà testato su un sito pilota, per il quale si implementerà in una WPS un modello in grado di ricostruire una distribuzione delle pressioni interstiziali, giungendo alla corretta caratterizzazione idraulica del sito, in modo da valutare in tempo quasi reale l'eventuale stato di pericolo per la stabilità dell'argine. Il sistema sarà implementato usando Free e Open Source Software, con l'intenzione di rilasciare con questa modalità il software realizzato nell'ambito del progetto. The project uses the modern OGC services to create, manage and use a sensors network. The research is focused on the monitoring of a geotechnical site: a new approach is used of a classic type of monitoring. The large number of sensors and, above all, their heterogeneity, poses new challenges with respect to the usual Sensor Observation Service (SOS). This system integrates a SOS and a Web Processing Service (WPS), as defined by the Open Gis Consorzium (OGC), to manage the sensors network, data and their processing. Unlike the sensors networks usually managed by SOS, geotechnical monitoring sites involve a large number of heterogeneous sensors, often delivering redundant measurements, whose calibration and data validation plays a fundamental role and must be carried out routinely. For this reason a new set of procedures to validate new data in (near) real time will be create in a DataBase Management System (DBMS). Since all the information has a spatial component (instruments, and therefore measurements, have coordinates, as weel as all the derived features) a DBMS with spatial extension will be used. The interface between the system and the users will consist in a dynamic WebGIS, able to display the measured quantities as maps, tables and graphs, representing for example their trend with respect to time. Moreover, the system will be able to apply some models to the available data, using a WPS, integrating a GIS with the SOS and the spatial DBMS. Since the deployment of SOSs is fairly recent, the available implementations must be evaluated, both in terms of OGC standard adherence and relevant feature for the project. The need to implement new functionality is foreseeable. In the same way, the creation of a WPS requires the choice of the suitable environment and the integration of different DBMSs, GISs and WPSs, with the development of new software. The system will be tested on a pilot monitoring site: a model to evaluate the distribution of interstitial pressures, to evaluate in (quasi) real-time the possible danger to the riverbank stability. The system will be implemented using Free and Open Source Software, with the intention to release all the software created in this project using a FOSS license. Modelli computazionali / Computational models Modelling of venous blood flow from the human brain with bio-medical engineering applications Toro, E. This research programme concerns the modelling of the venous blood flow from the human brain in the extracranial region. The proposed research is motivated by an important medical application arising from the very recently proposed Zamboni s hypothesis that multiple sclerosis is closely linked to anomalous venous outflow from the brain. The proposed research falls broadly in the areas of physiological flows and bio-medical engineering, with strong analogies with geophysical flows, in terms of approaches and methodologies. It is envisaged that a succesful PhD thesis in this area will offer the student a broad range of professional opportunties. Modellazione distribuita integrata del ciclo idrologico dei bilanci energetici al suolo e data assimilation R. Rigon Sviluppo del modello GEOtop nell'ambito di vari progetti europei e nazionali per la descrizione di una delle componenti del ciclo idrologico. Il campo lavoro in questo momento e' l'implementazione del modello secondo gli schemi del progetto ESMF in modo da poterlo agganciare a strumenti di modellazione climatica e meteorologica. Il campo specifico di applicazione può essere uno dei vari aspetti connessi a questo tipo di modellazione. In questo momento stiamo studiando l'assimilazione di dati satellitari, l'evoluzione del manto nevoso e la produzione di deflusso, la modellazione della radiazione. Advanced Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) for Environmental Applications

14 M. Dumbser The main topic of this PhD thesis concerns the further development and the application to large-scale computational problems in environmental engineering of an existing three-dimensional parallel Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) code, developed in the Laboratory of Applied Mathematics at the University of Trento. The main developments to be carried out on a fundamental level concern the interaction between water and multi-scale granular material (from rocks to gravel and fine sediments). Furthermore, the constitutive behaviour of non-newtonian fluids, such as mud and clay, are to be implemented. The large and challenging three-dimensional applications, which this PhD thesis aims at, will be subsequently done on modern supercomputer infrastructure, available in the framework of the European network "HPC Europe". A possible stay abroad of several months is possible within this PhD thesis at one of the following supercomputing centres: Stuttgart (Germany), Edinburgh (United Kingdom), Barcelona (Spain). The candidate should have basic knowledge of numerical analysis, in particular of numerical methods for ordinary and partial differential equations. For the stay abroad at the European supercomputing centres, a proficient level in English, Spanish or German is necessary. Edilizia sostenibile / Sustainable building Architettura sostenibile: sistemi di valutazione della sostenibilità edilizia per edifici e abitazioni di piccole e medie dimensioni, nuovi e storici Sustainable Architecture: sustainability rating system for new and historical buildings of small and medium size A. Frattari Diverse sono le modalità per valutare la sostenibilità edilizia e diversi sono stati gli approcci metodologici al problema. In questi anni la tendenza è stata quella di prendere in considerazione edifici nuovi e di notevole dimensione con destinazione d uso collettiva. Mancano attualmente strumenti efficaci per valutare la sostenibilità di edifici di piccole e medie dimensioni sia nuovi che esistenti. Si propone una ricerca che analizzi gli attuali protocolli di certificazione ambientale e, attraverso un lavoro sintetico, proponga un nuovo sistema finalizzato alla certificazione di edifici di piccole e medie dimensioni sia nuovi che oggetto di restauro. There are different rating systems to define the sustainability of the buildings. Different methodological approaches characterize the actual standards used in the different geographical context. There aren t procedures to evaluate the environmental impact of small or medium buildings. The proposed research is focused on the development of new methodological approach to determinate a new rating system for small and medium buildings, new or under restoration, through an analysis of the existing rating systems and the proposal of new indicators of the sustainability. Architettura sostenibile: edifici in legno a basso consumo energetico per la riduzione dei costi ambientali Sustainable architecture: low energy timber buildings for low environmental costs A. Frattari Finalità della ricerca è lo sviluppo di strumenti e metodi per nuove tecniche per edifici nei quali le caratteristiche tipologiche e costruttive siano compatibili con l impiego di sistemi di riscaldamento e raffrescamento alternativi basati sull uso di risorse rinnovabili e non inquinanti. The aim is to develop tools and methods for a new constructive practice in the buildings in which the typological and constructive characteristics are compatible whit the use of alternative heating and coolness systems based on the use of renewable and not polluting resources. Architettura sostenibile: edifici intelligenti Sustainable architecture: intelligent buildings B. Frattari Finalità della ricerca è approfondire e far avanzare la conoscenza e i metodi per la progettazione di edifici intelligenti per migliorare la qualità della vita e la gestione di edifici ai fini del risparmio energetico. The aim of the research is to advance the knowledge and the methods in the design of the intelligent buildings to improve quality of the life of the people and as management of the low and save energy buildings. Architettura sostenibile: strategie nel controllo dell illuminazione Sustainable architecture: lighting control strategies A. Frattari La finalità della ricerca è sviluppare metodologie e tecniche per l utilizzo razionale delle risorse energetiche. Il cuore della ricerca riguarderà in particolare la gestione dei sistemi di illuminazione e lo

15 studio delle potenzialità di sistemi di automazione per il controllo dell illuminazione, considerando la possibilità di regolare l intensità della luce artificiale in funzione delle condizioni ambientali interne e monitorando il comportamento degli utenti e l efficienza del sistema. The aim of the research is to develop methodologies and techniques to rationally use the energetic resources. The research s focus will especially revolve about the management of artificial light systems and the study of technology potentialities for lighting control, considering the possibility to regulate the intensity of the artificial light through the detections of indoor environmental conditions and monitoring the user s behaviour and system operation efficiency. Architettura per la città e il territorio / Architecture for the city and the landscape Il paesaggio e le infrastrutture per la mobilità Landscape design and mobility systems equipments C. Lamanna Le attrezzature per il paesaggio per agevolarne l accessibilità e garantire la sosta per la comoda fruizione presuppongono diverse velocità di esercizio: da un avvicinamento rapido ai luoghi considerati di pregio paesaggistico, alla velocità lenta del viaggio panoramico, fino al movimento statico, ai viaggi mentali: negli eremi di meditazione oppure nel treno del wendersiano Falso movimento dove l'atto di andar via si realizza unicamente come esplosione all'interno della storia (Peter Handke, 1977). Le infrastrutture per la viabilità solitamente non sono considerate parte del paesaggio, ma solo strumenti necessari per l accessibilità rapida ai luoghi del paesaggio: luoghi altri, deputati alla fruizione lenta del bello e distinti rispetto al territorio compromesso dagli impianti e dalle attrezzature dei trasporti che rendono possibile tale fruizione. Il principio base della Convenzione Europea del Paesaggio, che ribalta questa concezione estetica di origine ottocentesca, riconosce valore unitario ai diversi ambiti antropici al di là della distinzione tra ambiente naturale e attrezzature: una sorta di diritto alla bellezza, o meglio, alla riconoscibilità del proprio territorio, da garantire ad ogni ambiente antropico integrato, dove la morfologia è spesso determinata dalla presenza delle infrastrutture e, in particolar modo, dai manufatti legati alla viabilità. Rispetto alla contraddizione tra fruizione e consumo diventa fondamentale la percezione delle opere stesse anche in relazione alle differenti velocità per cui sono progettate: ad esempio, le strade panoramiche di montagna che hanno segnato nell ottocento il Trentino e l Alto Adige erano pensate per una percorribilità lenta e caratterizzata da soste frequenti per la fruizione del paesaggio. In questo senso, strade e ferrovie che collegano la pianura con la montagna hanno una doppia natura: sono infrastrutture che devono consentire di raggiungere velocemente i luoghi turistici della fruizione del paesaggio ma sono anche uno strumento diretto di percezione lenta del paesaggio che si attraversa. La ricerca tende a recuperare per le infrastrutture, normalmente affidate alle tecniche delle costruzioni stradali o dell arredo urbano, il ruolo di interventi di costruzione del paesaggio in ragione del luogo; una sperimentazione che afferma l appartenenza delle architetture per la mobilità alle discipline della terra e delle sue forme, per la produzione di nuovi consapevoli paesaggi. Le infrastrutture di alcuni casi campione saranno progettate nel rapporto con il territorio non solo in un senso mediato di integrazione, ma anche come produzione di un sistema di segni che conformano l aspetto dell ambiente, con la consapevolezza di chi si accinge ad un azione estetica. Mobility systems equipments for the landscape to facilitate the accessibility and to ensure a place where to stop for a comfortable observation need to be designed to different speeds: from the fast access to tourist places, to the slow speed of the panoramic tour, until the static movement in the mental trips: in the meditation Hermitages or on the train of the Wim Wenders s false movement where the act of moving away can be achieved only as the explosion inside the history (Peter Handke, 1977). Mobility infrastructures usually aren t considered as part of the landscape but only as necessary tools for a fast accessibility to the landscape: different places, built for the slow contemplation of the beauty and separated from the territory corrupted by the plants and the transport equipments that allow the landscape contemplation. The basic principle of the European Landscape Convention, that reverses this traditional aesthetic concept of the 19th century, recognizes a unique value in all anthropic productions, sweeping away the distinction between natural environment and infrastructures: a kind of right to the beauty, or in a better way, right to the landscape identity that should be given to every integrated landscape, where the morphology is very often determined by the presence of the infrastructures and, particularly, by the mobility infrastructures. Face to contradiction between contemplation and consumption, becomes to be important the perception of the infrastructures according to the different speed for which they are designed; for example, mountain panoramic roads, that are remarkable monuments of the 19th century in the Trentino - Alto Adige region, were designed for a slow speed and to allow frequent stops for landscape enjoying. Roads and Railways that connect the plain with the mountains have different aspects: They are infrastructures that enable to reach quickly the tourist spots in the landscape, but they are also a direct tool for a slow perception of the crossed landscape. The research theme intends to recuperate for infrastructures, normally left to the road technicians or the street furniture designers, the role of landscape design outils. Mobility systems architecture is related to landscape modeling. Mobility systems equipments will be planned and designed within the relationship with the territory, not only as mediation and integrations, but also as definition of a system of patterns that shape the environment through an aesthetic conscious act. Architettura delle infrastrutture: strumenti e metodi per l innovazione morfologica

16 Infrastructures architecture: instruments and methods for a morphology innovation C. Lamanna La ricerca si caratterizza con le parole chiave: infrastrutture e morfologia, dove questa è intesa come strumento operativo per la costruzione/trasformazione dell immagine della struttura fisica per un contesto insediativo, mentre la prima è riferita al ruolo determinante dei manufatti e opere per l accessibilità territoriale - ponti, viadotti e sistemi di collegamento tra ambiti di valle e di quota, ma anche attrezzature ricettive nella caratterizzazione di uno specifico ambiente antropico. Le caratteristiche morfologiche del territorio e del suolo, in particolare nei siti orograficamente complessi, sono proposte, nella ricerca, come matrici per una nuova progettazione delle opere infrastrutturali. L evocazione del paesaggio (naturale) come ambiente originario dell architettura, ma anche come obbiettivo ultimo del progetto (la forma dell ambiente costruito), rappresenta il terrain vague di una mitica condizione primordiale, non ancora urbana ma non più naturale dell invenzione architettonica, che deve essere meglio definito. I nuovi strumenti dell invenzione digitale per la progettazione architettonica hanno riportato alla luce tracce morfologiche di origine preurbana che vengono proposte come matrici di forme nuove: sono figurazioni derivate da dinamiche geologiche e da segni naturali idealmente ritrovati sotto lo strato dei sedimenti culturali formati con il depositarsi delle architetture nella città. La rilettura delle forme mutevoli della natura, la trasfigurazione del movimento spostano l interesse dalla tettonica dell oggetto a figurazioni spaziali degli edifici derivate dalla modellazione continua tridimensionale. Queste presenze traslate nel progetto esprimono una necessità di corrispondenze in architettura tra la costruzione logica del progetto e le precise forme della natura fisica dei manufatti e delle opere infrastrutturali. Metafore, metamorfosi, mimesi e deformazioni -figure retoriche che spesso descrivono gli spazi dell architettura contemporanea- costituiscono gli strumenti per l innovazione estetica e poetica per la capacità rapportarsi al contesto fisico a cui si applicano. La precisazione di questi strumenti e metodi sono l oggetto di questa ricerca progettuale che tende a recuperare il rapporto di necessità tra architettura e suolo, tra architettura e struttura del territorio. Pianificazione e progettazione per lo sviluppo sostenibile Planning and design for sustainable development Sustainable Urban Development in the framework of the European Union Bruno Zanon Sustainable Urban Development is a key issue in the European framework, being at the crossroads of different sectoral policies and actions. Urban sustainability regards different scales and diverse topics, some of technical kind, other of cultural, social and economic nature and is expected to provide an urban space characterized by environmental, architectonic and social quality. In general, urban quality means an appropriate balance among the use of resources (energy, water, soil, etc.), the quality of the outputs of urban processes (waste, waste water, air, etc.) and the quality of the urban space, which relates to the physical features on the one side and to the social environment on the other. Another key issue regards the scale of intervention, as cities are connected to the external territory and to the wider space. The origin of the resources and the effects of environmental, social and economic kind of urban processes involve places often far away. In such conditions, it is difficult to take full responsibilities of the misuse of renewable and non renewable resources and of the negative effects of actions. Planning is the procedure used to transform and develop urban areas and the challenge to urban plans is the innovation of traditional physical planning in order to take into account such a complexity in answering the demands of local communities as well as other stakeholders expectancies. The European Union has defined a political and legal framework which is more and more effective in orientating and regulating actions of members states, regions and cities. Specific strategies for the urban environment have been approved, documents such as guidelines and reports have been elaborated, and databases activated. This dynamic framework challenges traditional urban planning and policies. The research work, on the basis of a theoretical framework, has to focus on a specific issue in order to define a methodological and operative path for a sustainable development of middle sized cities. A first phase will regard the construction of a methodology, the analysis of recent experiences and the collection of the available tools. A second phase will concern the analysis of the key factors concerning the urban sustainability. A third phase will elaborate a proposal able to connect technical issues with planning procedures, taking into consideration both physical and strategic aspects. The expected result is a contribution, which can be of methodological or sectoral kind, for the improvement of urban sustainability. Depending on the knowledge and abilities of the candidate, more emphasis will be given to physical or strategic planning, to environmental or social issues, to local development or territorial cohesion. The research, in any case, has to take into consideration the European challenge. Dall Urbanism al Landscape Urbanism: il progetto interscalare come approccio innovativo per l urbanistica G. Scaglione Gli aspetti interscalari del progetto urbanistico, di paesaggio e di architettura sono il principale campo di approfondimento delle ricerche in corso, attraverso le sue applicazioni nella città contemporanea e nello spazio costruito, nei luoghi urbani, nel paesaggio e nel territorio, nelle relazioni con il sistema della reti. Il

17 percorso di ricerca è inteso, in tal senso, soprattutto come anticipazione di scenari e vision future, piuttosto che come mera descrizione del presente. Ricerca, che fa perno sull osservatorio TALL, ed è rivolta soprattutto verso le innovazioni del landscape urbanism verso la direzione delle recenti e profonde trasformazioni del paesaggio, dei segni delle reti infrastrutturali, dei nuovi modelli ambientali e di sostenibilità, tesi a sviluppare altre possibili traiettorie di conoscenza, interpretazione e progetto molto più complesse e di natura realmente interscalari, in cui la centralità del progetto rimane l unico ed efficace strumento di conoscenza e cambiamento. Metodi per la valutazione ambientale strategica dei piani territoriali Methods for strategic environmental assessment of land use plans D. Geneletti La ricerca si propone di sviluppare metodi a supporto della valutazione ambientale strategica (VAS) dei piani territoriali combinando tecniche di analisi spaziale e analisi multicriteriale con la valutazione dei servizi ecosistemici. Durante la prima fase della ricerca, verrà costruito un quadro di riferimento teorico basato sull utilizzo del concetto di servizio ecosistemico nel contesto della valutazione della sostenibilità e dell accettabilità degli impatti causati da un piano. Verranno presi in considerazione sia gli ecosistemi naturali che quelli artificiali, così come l intera gamma degli impatti ambientali previsti dalla Direttiva europea sulla VAS. Nella fase successiva, verranno sviluppati metodi basati sulla modellistica GIS per la previsione della distribuzione e intensità degli impatti causati da azioni di piano. L utilizzo di tecniche di analisi multicriteriale permetterà di combinare gli effetti settoriali, dando origine a carte di impatto sintetiche, per il confronto tra scenari alternativi. La ricerca verrà applicata a casi di studio in Europa o nei Paesi in via di sviluppo, a seconda dell interesse e dell esperienza del candidato. Per i PVS, verrà data enfasi all analisi della relazione tra degrado delle risorse ambientali e povertà e dell interazione tra VAS e altri strumenti di riduzione della povertà. The research aims at developing methods to support strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of land use plans by combining GIS modeling, multicriteria analysis, and the evaluation of ecosystem services. In the first stage of the research, a reference framework based on the provision of ecosystem services is to be established to assess the significance and acceptability of spatial plans impacts. Both natural and artificial ecosystems are included in the analysis, and the impacts on all environmental components is studied. Subsequently, methods based on spatial modeling are developed to predict the extent and intensity of environmental effects of plan actions. Multicriteria analysis can be used to combine effects on different environmental and socioeconomic components, to generate composite impact maps, and to compare alternative proposals. Depending on candidate s interest and background, the research will target case studies in Europe or in developing countries. In the latter case, emphasis will be given to the relationships between environmental degradation and poverty, and to the interaction between SEA and other poverty-alleviation strategies. Modelli di integrazione tra processi urbani e processi naturali in aree a grande dotazione ambientale Integrating urban and environmental processes in areas of high environmental interest C. Diamantini, D. Geneletti Negli ultimi due o tre decenni si è assistito a un mutamento profondo del modello insediativo scaturito dall industrializzazione, che ha prodotto processi generalizzati di crescita della città e delle aree metropolitane. Oggi la modalità prevalente con cui si manifesta lo sviluppo insediativo è la dispersione delle attività e delle residenze. Questo processo di dispersione tende a mutare radicalmente il rapporto tradizionale tra la città e gli spazi aperti, che tendono a trasformarsi progressivamente in lembi marginali di un territorio interamente urbanizzato. Questo interviene anche in contesti caratterizzati da grande dotazione ambientale, comportando il degrado e la perdita di componenti naturali. Non appaiono sufficienti, oggi, né le conoscenze che si hanno di questa perdita di componenti naturali né le misure che vengono assunte allo scopo di limitarla sia in termini di quantità che, soprattutto, di qualità. Di queste problematiche il progetto di ricerca ritaglia un aspetto, ossia quello dell identificazione della naturalità residua in ambiti di dispersione insediativa, ponendosi al tempo stesso il problema di individuare quali modalità insediative hanno prodotto le alterazioni più problematiche. Verranno prese in esame una o più aree di studio, all interno delle quali condurre un analisi delle relazioni tra modello insediativo e funzionalità ecosistemica e proporre modello di integrazione tra processi insediativi e processi naturali. The dispersion in progress of the built environment is not only redesigning the territory, posing wholly new problems for urban planners problems of cohesion in a large area yet in some respects having the features and functions of a city but also multiplying and scaling up the problems raised by the interactions between settlement and natural processes, insofar as these are now territory-wide problems, not referable only to the urban regeneration, to the urban form, or to the edge of the city. In other words, the edge cannot so much be identified with the edge of the city, (i.e. the urban dynamics that interfere with the surrounding countryside), as with a multiple and multi-form edge of a growing built environment that ramifies over a vast territory and interferes virtually from inside with environmental and ecological processes. In terms of sustainable development the fact that the edge of the built environment coincides with a vast territory calls for a wholly new approach to planning practices vis-à-vis the natural environment. The purpose of this procedure is not so much that of simple guaranteeing green areas use, as happened in past practices through landmark

18 actions in the history of town and country planning, as to guarantee a real integration between settlement and natural processes. This means that the building processes should adjust themselves to meeting conservation needs, if not to increasing the present level of biodiversity, in order that equal status be attributed to settlements and natural processes. A useful indication, in this sense, is provided by the numerous experiences of environmental upgrading or remediation, guided by design criteria taken from ecosystem quality indicators that can be usefully incorporated in planning practice on both an urban and territorial scale. Paesaggio alpino / Alpine landscape C. Diamantini Il tema di ricerca è relativo alla identificazione di tipologie di paesaggio alpino capaci di riflettere una adeguata qualità di interazioni tra processi antropici e processi naturali. Con riferimento all ambito territoriale, l identificazione di queste tipologie considera, oltre al Trentino, situazioni esemplari rinvenibili nella parte di spazio alpino che comprende il Sud Tirolo, il Tirolo, il Voralberg e l Allgäuer. L obiettivo è quello di pervenire a tipologie di paesaggio alpino identificabili in base a specifici caratteri territoriali e quindi utilizzabili nella gestione e nella progettazione del territorio, nelle costruzioni identitarie e nel rafforzamento di contesti locali competitivi. This research topic deals with the identification of alpine landscape types characterised by high quality and complex interactions between human-driven processes and natural processes. The study focuses on alpine landscapes in Trentino, Tirol, South Tirol, Voralberg and Allgäuer. The goal is to relate landscape types to their territorial specific contexts, and hence to use them as key elements in spatial planning and environmental management, with the purpose of strengthening the development of competitive local entities.